20 Questions With

20 Questions With Dr Rachel Clarke

Rachel Clarke is a palliative care doctor, writer and campaigner. Here she describes her experiences of a National Health Service (and social care system) in crisis, the low morale of staff and the suffering of patients. She criticises what she sees as years of Tory underinvestment in the NHS and accuses the government of ignoring the realities of her and her colleagues. Dr Clarke talks powerfully about the challenges she and many others faced during the height of the Covid pandemic, and reflects on the use of lockdowns. She also speaks movingly of what it's like to care for and treat people nearing the end of their life, extols the power of music, and explains why she doesn't fear her own death. 

20 Questions With Dr Guy Leschziner

Ever wondered what sleep is? What its role is? What's going on when we're dreaming? What explains sleep-walking? Curious to learn more about pain and its relationship with our bodies? Want to know more about our senses? Dr Guy Leschziner is a consultant neurologist and clinical lead for the Sleep Disorders Centre at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London. Here he shares some his understanding of sleep, pain and how our minds work, and gives his verdict on the crisis in the NHS.

20 Questions With Iain Dale

Iain Dale is an LBC presenter, podcast host, writer and editor. In this deeply personal interview he takes us behind the scenes of his radio show, shares what it was like coming out to his parents at 40, explains why he voted for Brexit and that he hasn't changed his mind, describes the importance of empathy as a phone-in host, talks about being friends with people who have different views to himself and reveals whether he's still a Tory. He also discusses crying on air, his stint as a hospital porter in Germany and his idyllic childhood in rural Essex. 

20 Questions With Robin Ince

Robin Ince is a comedian and writer who stars with Professor Brian Cox on The Infinite Monkey Cage on the BBC. Here, Robin explains his curiosity in the world around him, talks about what he understands to be the meaning of life, discusses his love of books, explains how he goes about making radio and appearing on stage in front of audiences large and small, and reveals why he wants to make people happy.  

20 Questions With Sir Simon Schama

Sir Simon Schama is one of Britain's most famous historians. He is both a heavyweight academic and a teller of history who can communicate to millions on BBC television with his energetic and engaging style. Born into the rubble of the closing stages of the Second World War, Schama has himself lived through the struggle for freedom that gripped the second half of the 20th century. As battles that once seemed won now resurface, his new series, 'The History of Now', is a deeply personal account of the challenges that continue to face humanity. In this episode of 20 Questions With, Schama offers us precious insights into the importance of history, how he does what he does, and his perspective on where we're at as a world. 

20 Questions With Marina Purkiss

Marina Purkiss started taking an interest in politics in 2016 around the time of the Brexit referendum, since when she has created a media platform for herself through her campaigning on Twitter. Not a fan of the Tory government, she is relentless in her attempts to hold those in power to account. Here she tells the story of her journey to national prominence, her views on Sir Keir Starmer and Jeremy Clarkson, how she'll be voting at the next General Election and why she won't appear on GB News. 

20 Questions With Juliet Stevenson

Juliet Stevenson is one of Britain's greatest actors on stage and screen. Here she talks about love, acting chemistry, working with directors, personal development, grief, hard work and what life is like behind the scenes. 

20 Questions With Magician David Williamson

David Williamson is a sleight-of-hand artist, magician and circus master. Here he explains what magic means to him, how the circus works in the age of health and safety, and what life's like behind the scenes at Circus 1903.

20 Questions With Philip Lymbery

Philip Lymbery is the global CEO of Compassion in World Farming. He has dedicated his life to improving the lives of billions of animals and birds. Here he explains why he cares about animal welfare, how he goes about achieving large scale change, and why it's so important that we all play our part in helping to preserve the planet for ourselves and those we share it with. 

20 Questions With Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu

Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu is a British-Nigerian activist, political commentator, author and lawyer. A champion of racial and gender equality, she regularly speaks truth to power on TV and has written the book, This Is Why I Resist. Here, she explains white privilege, spells out how much progress is yet to be made in Britain and America, gives her view on the British monarchy, describes her own royal background, and reveals the Shola behind the television personality.